$150,000
override levy soughtThe school board authorized some extensive cuts in the budget but still
need to seek a $150,000 override levy to make up the shortfall for the
2009-10 school year. This is the smallest override sought in many years.
The levy election will be held May 19. If more than one candidate files
for the position there will also be a trustee election on that day for
the Ferdinand zone (zone 5). Currently Pat Alfrey is the only one who has
filed.
They wound up cutting both a 2nd grade and 6th grade teacher position
due to the numbers of students in those grades, but two teaching positions
paid for with federal Title funds opened up and they wound up not cutting
any certified staff. Two classified positions were cut with seniority determining
who stayed. There were about $175,000 in total cuts made. These include
cutting the Elementary Special Education position, Elementary counselor
and Elementary Computer Lab Aide. Adjusting the contracts of the Special
Education Psychologist and Career Teacher. Cutting 10% of extracurricular
competitions; cutting back on utilities, janitorial, maintenance, bus,
subs, etc., cutting budget requests, cutting the coal worker position,
cutting back on technology supplies, cutting extra contracts from the general
fund, cutting the district mail carrier, cutting the secretary helper at
the high school cutting extra contracts for library aides and cutting back
classified salaries from 178 days to 173. Also making the superintendent
special ed responsible saves $20,000.
Superintendent Gary Blaz welcomes anybody with any questions about
these cuts or the levy to talk with him. He also has an article elsewhere
in this weekís paper addressing some of these questions.
The school calendar for 2009-2010 was adopted. School will start on
August 26 and end on June 4. The full calendar is outlined below.
Middle School heating system bids were discussed. Blaz said they received
4 bids but there were some inconsistencies and he wants to make sure they
have the same info to all the bidders. Gus Hoene made a motion to have
Blaz and trustee Bill Hill get together and review things and get back
to the bidders and then determine the best option so that the work can
get started. The motion was seconded and approved by the board.
Reneí Forsmann presented a bid proposal to redo the technology wiring
at the high school and middle school. A best guess she has from someone
who looked at it is about $47,000 for each building. What has happened
is they have outgrown the wiring they have. As they add more machines the
whole system slows down. Funding for this would be from the Forest Fund
monies. The board approved asking for bids.
Several fund transfers were approved. There will be $36,859 transferred
from the general fund to the maintenance fund and $76,000 from the Federal
Forest fund to the maintenance fund. Also $41,697.76 will be transferred
from the plant facility fund to the bus fund.
Bill Hill volunteered to be the board member on the negotiations committee.
In administrative reports Mrs. Forsmann presented a list of all the
activities coming up in the final 7 weeks of school.
Of special not she said the Spring Concert will be a little different
as the high school and middle school bands will join together. It is set
for May 19 at 7 p.m. at the Middle School gym. Featured will be band numbers
by a combined 7th-12th grade band.
Todd Shumway wasnít in attendance but sent along a report stating that
grade checks were done April 17.
He reported that 12 students competed at the state HOSA competition
with 9 qualifying for Nationals in June.
He reported their high school showcase during parent-teacher conferences
was very well received.
All three principals reported ISATís have started and are ongoing.
Blaz reported the school will again be holding a NICI appreciation
barbecue in conjunction with the Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce. It is
set for May 7 from 11:30-2:30. He and Shumway will cook burgers along with
board member Gus Hoene who volunteered to take Forsmannís place. Forsmann
will be gone to her sonís college graduation.
The board adjourned to an executive session at 8:15 p.m.
The next regular meeting of the board will be Monday, May 18 at 7 p.m.
They will also get together on May 19 at 8:45 p.m. to canvass ballots from
the levy election.
School
Calendar for 2009-2010The Prairie school calendar for the 2009-2010 school year was approved
Monday, April 20 at the school board meeting.
Following are the no school days, quarter breaks, etc.
August 26-First day of school.
Sept. 7-Labor Day, no school.
Oct. 1 & 2-teacher in-service days, no school
Oct. 29-end of first quarter
Oct. 30-In-service day, no school
Nov. 4-5-parent-teacher conferences
Nov. 6-No school
Nov. 25-27-Thanksgiving break, no school
Dec. 21-Jan. 1-Winter break, no school
Jan. 14-end of second quarter
Jan. 15-In-service day, no school.
Jan. 18-Martin Luther King Day, no school
Feb. 12-In-service day, no school
Feb. 15-Presidentís Day, no school
March 25-end of third quarter
March 26-In-service day, no school
March 31-April 1-Parent-teacher conferences
April 2-9-Spring Break, no school
May 28-Graduation
May 31-Memorial Day, no school
June 4-Last day of school